Attachment for non-removable tags



April 8, 1958 A 5, PARKER- 2,829,455

ATTACHMENT FOR NON-REMOVABLE TAGS Filed March 6, 1956 INVENTOR. Z4 SAMUEL J PAR/(ER A BY A TTORNE Y5 ATTACHMENT FORIINONQREMOVABLE TAGS Samuel J. Parkensacramento, Calif. Application March 6, 1956,'Serial No. 569,788

4 Claims. (CL 40-24)."

which a non-removable tag may be secured in such manner that neither the tag nor the fastener may be removed without altering the appearance thereof in such manner as to be readily detected.

Non-removable tags have been employed for some time for such purposes as to deter return of worn clothing or fabrics to retail stores for refund. Such tags are so constructed that once afiixed to the garment they cannot be removed without destroying the tag. Such tags have numerous other uses, such as, for example, the tagging of poultry by inserting the fastener through a wing, sealing of various types of meters, tagging nursery plants, etc. In the following description of the invention, the tagging of garments is set forth as illustrative of one use.

One of the disadvantages of prior tags is inherent in their construction, namely, that the choice of locations to which they can be applied is limited. The present invention employs a wire fastener which may be passed through a buttonhole, loop or the like and which receives a conventional garment tag in such manner that the fastener cannot be displaced without destroying the tag. Accordingly, the present invention enhances the versatility of use of such tags by facilitating the attachment thereof to garments.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading I the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the fastener and tag attached to a garment;

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the fastener and tag;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the structure of Fig. 2 partly broken away in section to reveal interior construction;

Fig. 4 is a plan of a tag prior to attachment;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal midsectional view through the structure of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the structure after attachment;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified fastener.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the present invention may b attached to a buttonhole 19 of a blouse 20, it being understood that the invention may be applied to other parts of different garments and for many other uses. The purpose of the tag and fastener herein illustrated is to deter dishonest customers from returning worn clothing to retail stores. The embarrassment of wearing clothing with the tag attached requires removal of the tag before United States Patent 2 publicly wearing the garment and after the tag is once removed it cannot be reapplied without detection.

A conventional tag of this'type comprises a'paper, cardboard or other tag body 21 having adjacent oneend a largeeyelet 22 and adjacent the opposite end a small eyelet 23,- both preferably formed of a resilient material such as brass. The small eyelet 23 comprises a tubular barrel 24 having an enlarged head 26 at one end and a terminal bead or enlargement 27 at the opposite end.

The large eyelet22 likewise comprises a tubular barrel -28 enlarged head 29 at oneend thereof. The opposite end of barrel 28 is formed with an outwardly turned portion 31 formed with scalloped, inwardly turned prongs 32 which are of a resilient nature. Heads 26 and 29 are preferably concealed by paper coverings 34 overlying the same.

In use tag body 21 is folded in half and the small eyelet, 23 is insertedinside the large eyelet 22 and heads 26 and 29 pressed together. The terminal enlargement 27 slips inside theprongs 32 and, by reason of the resilient nature of the prongs 32, they lock the terminal enlargement 27 so that the eyelets cannot be separated without destroying the same or tearing the heads 26 or 29 out of thetag body 21. The length of the tag body 21 and the lengths of the eyelets 22 and 23 are limitations upon the use of the device which are circumvented by the present invention.

Accordingly the present invention comprises the use of a wire fastener 36 which is passed through buttonhole 19 and to which tag 21 is attached. In the modification shown in Figs. 1-7, inclusive, such fastener 36 comprises a firstleg 37 extending from one end of loop 38 and a second leg 39 extending outwardly from the opposite end of loop 38. The second leg 39 is bent into an inner bight 41 and an outer bight 42 with a' short, straight connection 43 intermediate the two bights, which connection 43 comprises, in effect, an extension of second leg 39. Between the two bights 41 and 42 is an opening 44.

To prevent the outer end of first leg 37 from being drawn out of outer bight 42, the first leg 37 may be formed with an upturned extremity 51 which may be formed in a point 52 to facilitate insertion through cloth, poultry flesh, etc.

In use, the leg 37 is passed through buttonhole 19 and is then snapped into a seated position, as best shown in Fig. 3, inside the two bights 41 and 42. Thereupon eyelets 22 and 23 are snapped into position through opening 44. Once the eyelets are locked in place, they cannot be removed from the fastener 36 nor can the fastener be opened by reason of the fact that opening 44 is blocked.

The modified fastener 47 shown in Fig. 8 is formed with a spring loop 48 of more than 360, which imparts additional resiliency to the movement of leg 37 relative to leg 39.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a tag of the non-removable type and a fastener therefor, said tag comprising a tag body extending over and covering opposite sides of said fastener and a first and a second eyelet, said eyelets being permanently interfitting; and said fastener comprising a loop, a first leg and a second leg extending from said loop, said second leg having means for attachment of said first and second legs together, said means being shaped and dimensioned to receive said eyelets, whereby said I 3 means cannotbe disengaged after said'eyelets are interfitted therein.

2. Incombination, a ,fold'able tag and a fastenertherefor, said tag having locking means to'secure said tag in folded position-so that it cannot'be unfolded without destruction thereof; said fastener comprisingaportion arranged tobe attached'to an object, latch'rneansto fasten said fastener in closed position so that it cannot be detached from said object while, in closed position, and

means cooperable with said lockingmeans to secure said latch means in closed position. 7

3. In combinatioma non-removabletag and a fastener, said tag extending over and covering opposite sides of said fastener having interfitting means constructed to be secured in position whereby said interfitting means can- 1 not be separated without visible detection, said fastener having a first leg, a-second leg, a loop intermediate said first and secondleg, and means on said second leg to secure said first leg in latched position, said last-named means being-shaped and dimensioned'to receive'said interfitting means, whereby said legs cannot be unlatched while said interfitting means are secured ininterfitting position.

'4. A tag'formerchandiseformed of-flexible sheet material and arranged to carry indicia thereon and provided with interfitting eyelets, said eyelets being permanently secured to one another when in interfitting position, and a latch member forming an eyelet-receiving opening when in closed position to attach said tag to merchandise and V lock said tag and latch member together and to said merchandise when said tag is disposed in eyelet interfitting position with said eyelets being disposed through said opening of said latchmember, said tag extending over and covering opposite sides of said latch member.

References Cited in the file'ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

